Fledgeling Take Flight

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer AU
Summary: Arden takes his first steps to become who he was always meant to be.
Word Count: 215
Rating: Teen

          Jenna raises an eyebrow as Mihai sits down next to her in the cafeteria, bold as you please. It’s clear she’s nowhere near as confident as she appears, but she’s hoping that if she just acts that way, it’ll be enough to fool them.
          “So, how are we on hate crimes?” the Eagle asks cheerfully, and that, Jenna decides, rates both eyebrows.
          “Sadly, in most cases, it’s out of our jurisdiction. It’s certainly not tolerated, if that’s what you’re asking. The name ‘Arden’ was chosen for a reason; the Eagle could be male or female, and no one will question.” From the way Arden makes a face, though, that was not the true worry—and if so, what other quality would she be concerned about?
          “...If you’re transfem or non-heterosexual, it’s not as if you are alone, here,” she guesses, quietly, and Arden blushes deeply and splutters a bit.
          “I am not transfem, I just—” she hisses and looks away, all bravado gone.
          “You are the Eagle. If you want hormones or surgery, you can have them,” she tells Arden plainly, and from the look of shock and sheer want quickly concealed...well.
          Marsh is probably going to complain, again, about a waste of time, but better the Eagle be comfortable in his own skin.